Alice Mort’s dad had one simple pitch for boarding school: “It’ll be fun.” Little did he know how true that would be. Graduating from St Margaret’s in 2013, Alice looks back on her time in boarding with fondness. The mix of excitement and anticipation at the end of holidays, the buzz around dorm allocations, and the joy of hearing familiar voices in the hallways all stand out as highlights. For Alice, the magic lay in the small moments – like sitting on the floor in a friend’s room while they unpacked. It’s these memories that made her time at St Margaret’s special. Among the many lifelong friends she made is Flick Brumpton (’13), who will be a bridesmaid at Alice’s upcoming wedding.

Like many Old Girls, after leaving school, Alice wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to do. Instead, she spent a season working at Waterloo Station in the Northern Territory with Flick Brumpton and Georgina Fernie (’13), where she encountered plenty of familiar faces from St Margaret’s. Following this, she took a job at a biscuit factory in Toowoomba.

“At Mother Meg’s in Toowoomba, I worked from 10pm to 6am, and let’s just say, I wasn’t the most pleasant person working night shift. I was cranky all the time,” she jokes.

As luck would have it, her dad, working in China a lot at the time, mentioned a new cadetship program with the Australian Chamber of Commerce. Seeing this as a valuable opportunity, Alice eagerly took it on. Her cadetship in China proved to be an eye-opener, giving her behind-the-scenes exposure to the import/export industry and various facets of agribusiness. She worked with both Australian and international companies, helped at tradeshows, and gained new skills ranging from PowerPoint presentations to updating English sections of overseas websites.

“I was always looking for more work. There wasn’t much else to do, so I pitched in wherever I could.” This experience allowed her to see the broader landscape of agribusiness beyond her previous knowledge.

While she enjoyed her time in China, she was ready to come  home. Back in Australia, a friend's suggestion led her to agribusiness studies at Marcus Oldham College. When asked if she thought she’d always end up studying agribusiness, Alice said she wasn’t really sure, but it was a natural fit given her family’s involvement and her recent experiences. The program’s practical, hands-on approach, including experiences with fish farms in Gippsland and deer farming in New Zealand, was exactly what she was looking for. Alice thrived on this broad experience and loved every bit of it. It wasn’t just cattle and sheep; the degree explored all facets of agriculture.

Alice now works at NAB, covering the Charleville, Cunnamulla, Augathella and Quilpie areas. Starting as a graduate, she has steadily climbed the ranks, inspired by her predecessor, Michelle. Alice loves her job, particularly the chance to interact with clients and be part of their business journeys.

“The best part of my job is definitely my clients and being able to play a small role in their success,” she says. When asked if she faces any setbacks or hardships working both rurally and in finance, she mentions she’s “lucky” because her predecessor was well respected by their clients, so it was a smooth transition.

Her role also allows her to reconnect with former St Margaret's students and families, whether as clients or as she’s passing through town. Alice values the supportive environment at her workplace and strives to excel in her role.

When reflecting on the best advice she’s received and if there is any wisdom she wishes to impart on past or present Old Girls, Alice shares: “No one is really averse to change; they’re averse to loss. Often, it’s the loss that makes people upset. So, reframe it. What are you losing, but what can you gain?” This perspective has been crucial for her, helping her navigate challenges and her career.

By Bronwyn Ninai (’16)